County Republican Central

'TCBetty Smith appointed to GOP Central CommitteeThe Carroll County Republican Central Committee has appointed Betty Smith of Uniontown as a member of the committee.She will finish out the unexpired term of John Buchheister, who recently resigned.Pub Date: 5/04/97

While Senate colleagues halted proceedings during the special legislative session to applaud Harford County Sen. J. Robert Hooper for nearly nine years of service, county Republicans began the task of looking for his successor. Hooper, 71 and in frail health, walked into the Senate chamber Thursday, ready to work on the tax package one day after announcing his resignation. He arrived in the middle of a colleague's speech on increasing the sales tax. The Republican from Street, who has represented District 35 since 1999, received a standing ovation from senators, staff and observers in the balcony.

State Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. appeared poised yesterday to re-enter the District 21 Senate race, as the state Republican Party welcomed the former Democrat to the GOP and two Republican Party chairmen were moving to nominate him. "We are very happy about Senator Giannetti's decision to switch to the Republican Party and look forward to him as our candidate in the general election," said state Republican Party Chairman John M. Kane. Earlier in the day, the chairman of the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee, Chuck Gast, formally nominated Giannetti to fill the vacancy left by the District 21 primary winner, John Stafford, said state GOP spokeswoman Audra Miller.

When 75 people attend an Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee meeting, something is up. This week's gathering, which had to be moved to a larger venue to accommodate the expected crowd, promised political theater and did not disappoint. The result was just as promised: By a vote of 10-2, chairman Mike Collins was ousted. But before that, there was (failed) maneuvering to quash public comment, followed by a (failed) effort to limit it. Then came the impassioned speeches, telling central committee members that the future of the county and state Republican party hinged on the decision they were about to make.

Scott Hollenbeck of Westminster has filed to run for the Republican nomination for register of wills in Carroll County. A resident of the county since 1976, the 38-year-old has served on the Carroll County Republican Central Committee since 1998. He is in his second year as committee secretary. Hollenbeck is a 1981 graduate of South Carroll High School. He sits on the Board of Enterprise and Recreation Services. Hollenbeck is a member of St. Stephen's Reformed Episcopal Church. He is married and has a 3-year-old daughter.

Albert J. Craemer, who will oppose Delegate Lawrence A. LaMotte, D-Carroll, Baltimore, for the House of Delegates District 5B seat, announced Tuesday he will run as a Republican rather than as an independent.Craemer said he has been selected as a nominee by the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee, replacing Brenda Ann Strohmer, who resigned.He said he will register as a Republican on Monday, the first day voter registration books are to re-open after the Sept. 11 primary."Having a party affiliation will be a big help to me," he said.

Three Anne Arundel County Republicans defeated in last year's legislative elections are seeking to fill the vacant House of Delegates seat in District 32. David A. Tibbetts, David P. Starr and Terry R. Gilleland Jr. have applied to succeed Del. James E. Rzepkowski, who resigned last week to take a post in the Ehrlich administration. Friday was the application deadline. The Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee will select a replacement this week to serve through the end of 2006.

FOR EIGHT years, Diane R. Evans has represented voters on the Broadneck Peninsula and in Severna Park on the Anne Arundel County Council. With term limits, Ms. Evans cannot run again for her seat, and is campaigning instead for county executive.Democrats, sensing an opportunity, have fielded a surprisingly large slate of candidates for the council seat Ms. Evans is vacating. Four years ago, only David DeAngelis, chief deputy sheriff in Baltimore, ran. He is running again this year, with four others -- Tara K. Frame, Mary P. Marsh, Susan E. Pogue and Joseph A. Spiegel.

An Eldersburg attorney and member of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee has announced his candidacy for county commissioner. Michael D. Zimmer, 41, will campaign to represent the newly created District 5, which includes Eldersburg and Sykesville, the county's most populous area. Voters opted to expand the board from three to five members and to elect the commissioners by district. Zimmer said he would focus on education and roads. "I hope to make a difference in the ordinary lives of families," Zimmer said.

Impact fee ordinance scheduled for hearingThe Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing a proposed ordinance to raise impact fees on new residences at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the County Office Building.The ordinance would raise impact fees on new dwellings: single-family homes, from $4,487 to $4,744; mobile homes, from $1,473 to $1,631; townhouses, from $3,377 to $3,595; and multifamily homes from $1,784 to $1,925.The ordinance may be reviewed and copies obtained at the Office of the County Clerk during business hours and at all branches of the public library.

Less than a year after being elected chairman of the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee, Michael Collins is facing a mutiny. The behind-the-scenes campaign is playing out publicly, however, through a steady chorus of statements and leaked memos posted in the blogosphere. Among those leading the charge is Brian Griffiths, a 27-year-old who lost a bid for a Central Committee seat last fall and has been blogging for more than two years at brian griffiths.com. He obtained and posted a letter sent by the Central Committee's vice chairman asking Collins to step down, and later displayed Collins' rebuttal.

The 18-hour workdays are gone. So are the early mornings spent hanging from the back of his sanitation company's garbage trucks. But, state Sen. J. Robert Hooper said he is intent on returning to Annapolis for his ninth legislative session despite a series of medical setbacks. Earlier this month, Hooper, 70, was hospitalized briefly after suffering a minor heart attack. He also had been undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer. He thought he had beat the disease last year until it returned in the summer.

State Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. appeared poised yesterday to re-enter the District 21 Senate race, as the state Republican Party welcomed the former Democrat to the GOP and two Republican Party chairmen were moving to nominate him. "We are very happy about Senator Giannetti's decision to switch to the Republican Party and look forward to him as our candidate in the general election," said state Republican Party Chairman John M. Kane. Earlier in the day, the chairman of the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee, Chuck Gast, formally nominated Giannetti to fill the vacancy left by the District 21 primary winner, John Stafford, said state GOP spokeswoman Audra Miller.

Democrats find themselves in the unusual position of scrambling to find candidates to challenge the four Republican incumbents in Anne Arundel County Council races this fall. And in the three remaining districts - in North and West county, plus the Annapolis area - Democrats have primary fights before reaching the November general election. One battleground is council District 1, in the northern tier of the county, where the candidates are seeking the seat being vacated by Democrat Pamela G. Beidle.

An Eldersburg attorney and member of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee has announced his candidacy for county commissioner. Michael D. Zimmer, 41, will campaign to represent the newly created District 5, which includes Eldersburg and Sykesville, the county's most populous area. Voters opted to expand the board from three to five members and to elect the commissioners by district. Zimmer said he would focus on education and roads. "I hope to make a difference in the ordinary lives of families," Zimmer said.

Panel discussion set tomorrow on open space The Howard County League of Women Voters will present a panel discussion on open space -- its status, its oversight, its cost and how it should be preserved -- from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Ellicott City Senior Center, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City. Panelists are Mina Hilsenrath, chief of the Division of Environmental and Community Planning at the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning; Lynne Nemeth, executive director of the Howard County Conservancy; Mark Raab, Natural Resource and Open Space Division, Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks; Chick Rhodehamel, vice president for open-space management for the Columbia Association; and Raymond S. Wacks, the county budget director.

CSX to close road at crossing through Friday for repairs The CSX Railroad is planning to close Newport/Flag Marsh Road at the railroad crossing for repairs starting today. Repairs are scheduled to be completed by the end of Friday. Detours will be marked throughout the area. Information: 410-386-2035. 98 Rock Blood Drive starts today at TownMall TownMall of Westminster will hold the 19th annual 98 Rock Blood Drive with the American Red Cross this week. Radio station WIYY-FM will give all donors a T-shirt and provide games and giveaways for shoppers.

Red Cross thanks volunteer responders As the volunteer chair of the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross, it is my privilege to work with many dedicated volunteers. National Fire Prevention Week ended on Oct. 11, making it an appropriate time to publicly express my appreciation for those volunteers who assist with local disaster response. Many people don't realize that when the local fire department responds to a home fire, the Red Cross also answers the call. Our unsung heroes are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, often leaving behind friends, loved ones and warm beds in the middle of the night to meet with those affected by disaster.